On September 27, 1541, the Tenth Year of Astronomy, Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had planned to retreat when Takeda Harunobu reported good news, received the news that Takeda's army suffered a disastrous defeat in the Miso Pass. What followed was the news that Manchuria
Top-secret information brought by Kansuke Yamamoto, who was covered in blood.
"Hojo Sakyo is not dead at all... He personally led his army to set up an ambush at the Miso Pass. Even our army's scouts saw him in person. He faked his death to trick us into marching!"
"What?" Imagawa Yoshimoto frowned deeply after hearing the news, "My cousin... is really willing to do anything for victory."
After regaining his composure, Imagawa Yoshimoto hurriedly recited a few Buddhist chants, as if he was repenting to the gods and Buddhas - after all, he had just recited sutras to pray for the souls of Hojo Uzuna a few days ago - who would have thought that he would bully him in front of the gods and Buddhas?
Delusion.
"How is Lord Takeda doing now?" Imagawa Yoshimoto asked again.
"The troops have been withdrawn back to Kai, and the troops will be disbanded soon." Yamamoto Kansuke seemed a little embarrassed when he answered Imagawa Yoshimoto's question, but in fact, he was quietly observing the subtle changes in Imagawa Yoshimoto's expression - trying to determine who Imagawa Yoshimoto was.
Did he choose not to march because he realized that Hojo Uzuna was still alive? Or was he really not marching because he didn't want to kill others?
Yamamoto Kansuke was originally more inclined to the former: After all, Imagawa Yoshimoto is the overlord of the party, how could he give up a great opportunity to fight because of these meaningless affection between his children? It must be because the ninjas of the Imagawa family discovered the secret of the Hojo clan Tsuna's death, and quietly
The report was given to Imagawa Yoshimoto, but Imagawa Yoshimoto refused to attack, and instead allowed the Takeda family to die - a good move to borrow a knife to kill someone.
However, Takeda Harunobu disagreed with Yamamoto Kansuke's judgment. He believed that Imagawa Yoshimoto simply did not want to take advantage of others' danger, especially since that person was the son of the benefactor who saved his father back then, and no further information was obtained at all. Yamamoto Kansuke was in
Before coming, he had scoffed at Takeda Harunobu's speculation, but after seeing the surprise on Imagawa Yoshimoto's eyebrows, the guilt after lying to gods and Buddhas, and the worry about Takeda Harunobu, etc., Yamamoto Kansuke realized that Takeda Harunobu was
He is the one who truly understands Imagawa Yoshimoto.
"The Ryosugi family has also marched. Do you need to send someone to remind them?" Imagawa Yoshimoto added.
"My lord has already sent someone." Yamamoto Kansuke replied - but Takeda Harunobu did not notify him at all. Sitting and watching the Uesugi family in Ogidani, the Uesugi family in Yamauchi and the Hojo family having a shopping spree, this was something the Takeda family was happy to see.
"Even if the Hojo family did win, how could they make such false claims about their own life and death?" Imagawa Yoshimoto sighed, obviously still a little dissatisfied and confused by Hojo Utsuna's deception.
On September 30, the Tenth Year of Astronomy (1541), Imagawa Yoshimoto led the Imagawa Army back to Imagawa Hall, preparing to disband the troops and go back to the autumn harvest - in fact, they could not catch up. As compensation, Imagawa Yoshimoto paid tribute to every family who served in the military.
Additional stipends were issued.
However, outside the castle town of Imagawakan Tojo Castle, Imagawa Yoshimoto unexpectedly found many people standing on both sides of the road. After seeing Imagawa Yoshimoto's red bird horse seal from a distance, the wind brought cheers and thanksgiving from the people
——The Imagawa Army has never been treated like this. When Imagawa Yoshimoto walked in, he discovered that the people who came to welcome him were the refugees he brought back from Shinano. Taiyuan Xuezai placed them around the Imagawa Hall.
Beside the uncultivated fields, after they learned that Imagawa Yoshimoto's class had returned, they spontaneously rushed to greet them. There were also many ignorant children in the team - they were rescued from the massacre at Uehara Castle.
's children.
Amidst the grateful cheers of the people, Imagawa Yoshimoto's eyes turned slightly red. He just did some trivial things - he could obviously do more and save more people, but he didn't, because he considered
He gave up the interests of the Imagawa family - but just these small things, in the eyes of the poor people, are already an incredible kindness.
There is really no way...
"How wonderful." Ginkgo sighed softly in the sedan chair behind him. "How many times better than the voices of Kai's people cheering to the daimyo for the wealth they plundered?"
"Well..." Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded slightly, and finally let out a long sigh. He didn't know yet that his series of good deeds in Shinano would soon be spread by word of mouth among the honest people, and with every ordinary person's kindness
His desire and praise spread throughout Tokaido, bringing him the reputation of "the most benevolent person in Tokaido".
September 30, the Tenth Year of Astronomy (1541), inside the Imagawakan Castle Tower.
"Overall, you did a pretty good job this time. You helped our allies expand their territory and you didn't suffer much loss yourself. With Minami Shinano taken, our defense in the northern part of Enjiang was much lighter. And Takeda
We will definitely spend a lot of energy on the annexation of Minami-Shinano territory in the future, and will definitely rely on us even more." Taiyuan Xuezai read the files of Imagawa Yoshimoto's expedition, and finally praised him with a few words of satisfaction, but then
He changed the subject and said:
"But what about the half-percent sea salt that is sent to Kai every month? In order to prevent the massacre of the Takeda family - in fact, you only saved some children - you still have nothing to do with us Suruga.
Nongren—promised to send more sea salt every month?”
"It's my problem, old man, please stop talking about it." Imagawa Yoshimoto pursed his lips and shook his head, twisting his body on the tatami in frustration, "There is really nothing I can do..."
"All the sea salt has been given away, now you know it was wrong?" Taiyuan Xuezhai laughed twice.
"Even if I was wrong, it was because I failed to save the whole city." Imagawa Yoshimoto raised his head and glanced at Taiyuan Xue Zhai, "But it is impossible for me to break the alliance with the Takeda family because of this, even if I
No matter how dissatisfied I was, I was a hypocrite who gave up my principles for worldly interests. I was indeed wrong on this point."
"Then you later insisted on not taking advantage of the death of Hojo Sakyo to march. What did you say about not attacking the people? But this time you succeeded in sticking to the principle?" Taiyuan Xuezhai scratched his shiny head and teased Imagawa Yoshimoto.
One sentence.
"You can't repay kindness with hatred..." Imagawa Yoshimoto said unhappily, "Besides, I didn't find out afterwards that what you found out was false news, old man. My cousin's uncle is not dead. If it's true what you said.
As we advance, we will probably be the first to fall into the trap."
"Chengfang, you brat, you know how to talk hard." Taiyuan Xuezhai laughed and cursed, but didn't say anything more. Upon seeing this, Imagawa Yoshimoto also fell silent, and his brows lost their former look. Taiyuan Xuezhai naturally understood that he
The disciple was filled with entanglements and conflicts in his heart, so he stood up with a smile, belched wine and patted Imagawa Yoshimoto on the back: "Let's go, I have brought you some paintings of flowers and birds by famous artists from Kyoto."
Picture, why don’t you come and take a look?”
Just like Imagawa Yoshimoto, who went to find Taiyuan Snow Village as soon as he came back, Ginkgo also wanted to find Takeda Nobutora with great interest. To her surprise, Takeda Nobutora did not stay in the room left for him by the Imakawa family on the second floor of the castle tower.
Nei Ginkgo was a little surprised, but decided to go back to her bedroom first, but she heard the laughter of Goro Imagawa and Nobutora Takeda coming from the bedroom.
Ginkgo did not enter the door. Instead, she stood on tiptoes like a kitten and quietly approached the bedroom. She put her ear against the paper door to listen to what was going on inside.
"Grandpa, grandpa, throw it away quickly!" Imagawa Goro shouted with a smile.
"Here it comes, grandpa throw it over now, catch it, don't let Miao Miao snatch it!" Takeda Nobutora smiled, but Ginkgo almost didn't recognize the voice - such a kind and kind laughter is really that murderous one.
Can my father send it out?
Then Ginkgo heard the sound of throwing from inside the house, which must be throwing paper balls - this is Miaomiao's favorite game. There is no doubt that this playful kitten will definitely pounce on the paper balls.
There was another movement in the room, and then Imagawa Goro's laughter came again - it seemed that he got the paper ball before Miaomiao. Then he shouted: "Grandpa, pick it up!"
There was another sound of throwing, and this time the movement in the room was even more chaotic, followed by Takeda Nobutora's frustrated complaints and Imagawa Goro's happy laughter:
"You didn't get it! You didn't get it! I won!"
"Why did Miao Xiaomiao come to cause trouble?" Nobutora Takeda in the room looked at the smaller orange cat in front of her. She had a ball of paper in her mouth, happily handed it to her mother, and played kicking with Miao Miao.
Paper ball.
"Anyway, you just didn't get it!" The sound of Imagawa Goro's running sounded, followed by the sound of jumping and colliding with objects - probably he threw himself into Takeda Nobutora's arms.
"Come! Give grandpa a hug!"
"Now you know how to care for your child? I really can't help it..." Ginkgo opened the door, with a smile on his face, but he still pretended to be angry and said to Takeda Nobutora, "Huh? Father? Why didn't you know how to accompany me like this when you were a child?
Where am I playing?”
"How can the Takeda family's governor have time to play with his children?" Takeda Nobutora said to Ginkgo while holding his grandson in his arms, "But now, a down-and-out old man who has been kicked out of the house naturally has plenty of energy and time."
While Ginkgo sent Goro Imagawa to tidy up the messy room to avoid Sugeni coming over later and scolding her again, she leaned into Nobutora Takeda's ear and whispered at a volume that Goro Imagawa could never hear:
"I hope you really want to play with your child, and are not planning some dirty tricks to get close to your child to carry out your plan."
After Ginkgo said this, she frowned. For the first time in his life, Nobutora Takeda felt the fierce murderous aura from his daughter. Miaomiao and Miao Xiaomiao on the side seemed to notice it, and they stopped playing uneasily.
.
"It doesn't matter if you use me, my brother or my sister, but you are not allowed to use that child, and you are not allowed to use my children as bargaining chips for your samurai family." Ginkgo bit her lip and warned Takeda Nobutora word by word,
"Don't get that kid Wulang into the mess of your Wu family, or I will kill you, and I will do what I say."
"Haha, there is no escape. Goro was born into the Wu family. It was only a matter of time." Takeda Nobutora laughed, as if he was not frightened by his daughter's threat at all. "Only when he reaches my age will he be
Only by being exiled and living in seclusion can you get a moment of leisure."
At this moment, the sound of crutches came from the corridor at the door again. Ginkgo immediately realized that it was Sugini who was coming, and hurriedly tried to clean up the house, but her mother-in-law saw the messy bedroom and Imagawa Goro who was having a fight.
With two kittens, Ginkgo has experienced this kind of situation many times in the past few years - inevitably followed by a scolding and a few words of scolding for the mountain girl who didn't understand etiquette. She didn't care, she just turned a deaf ear.
.
However, this time, Shouguini didn't say anything, he just glanced inside the room.
"Mother, don't you teach me a lesson this time?" Ginkgo was surprised when he saw this, and couldn't help but tease, "Is it because of the face of my father, who is also a mountain man, that he doesn't want to pick his daughter-in-law in person? Really?
there's no way……"
Shouguini still didn't answer. How could there be any dissatisfaction or anger on Gujing Mubo's face? He simply nodded and left.
"It's weird, every time my mother saw me like this, she would get furious and wish she could cause trouble for me every day." Ginkgo murmured to herself in confusion as she watched Shouguini leave.
"The relationship with you is just part of the old nun's plan. It's just to lure me into the game and make Kai change the world. Now that the plan has been completed, do you think that old nun who is so cold-blooded that he can even kill his own son will
Do you mind your lifestyle as an outsider? Would you be angry over such a trivial matter?" Takeda Nobutora grinned, looking at Shouguini's figure, but the emotions in his eyes were a bit complicated:
"In a sense, your mother-in-law and I are of the same kind. She works hard for the family and has no time to pay attention to the love of her children and the happiness of her family. The difference is that I have been freed, but she will continue to be entangled in it. Only by completely losing power or